Dorado on the Prowl from Jay Murakoshi on Vimeo.
This is a good video - the first 3 minutes shows good fighting technique. Notice how the rod tip stays relatively low - high sticking isn't just a hokey foul, it's a good way to break a fly rod.
At about 3 minutes the video switches to an underwater shot of good sized Dorado working chum. If you come to Baja California Sur in June, July, or August this is where you will be casting the fly. In the last few seconds you can really see the sardinas as they try to escape. Watch what happens and you can get a feel for what the strike feels like.
I think I'll go check flights - I'm getting the itch real bad!
Viability Analysis of Reef Fish Populations Based on Limited Demographic Information
Despite the title this relatively straight forward scientific paper documents the condition of Leopard Grouper in Loreto Bay National Park. While the populations of fast growing, migratory, yellowtail, dorado, and sailfish appear to be maintaining decent populations and produce outstanding sport fishing opportunities, the inshore reef dwelling fish are vulnerable to sport fishing and are devastated by netting.
The new management plan needs to protect Leopard Grouper and other depressed populations from consumptive use. Its a perfect opportunity to experiment with no-take catch and release areas to provide for continued sport fishing - the economic base of Loreto, while rebuilding populations. Obviously, elimination of inshore gill netting in these depressed populations is key to preventing further declines.
The region west of Laguna San Ignacio has been one of my favorite parts of Baja for some time now. A lot of our travels have been in my non-air conditioned truck. The cool breezes of the Pacific Coast have provided relief from the heat and humidity of the Sea of Cortez on many trips.
The small community of Abreojos provides basic supplies. The town is prosperous due to its careful management of its Lobster and Abalone fisheries. Its not easy to get here - you can drive in but there is no bus service. Private planes can land at the airstrip next to the town (watch out for baseball games) or at Campo Rene. If you are adventurous you could take the bus to San Igancio and ask around for a ride.
The best fishing is in the late summer or early fall. The fly angler must be self sufficient. As far as I know I may be the only person to fly fish here. I would love to hear from anyone else who has tried.
Campo Rene located a few miles from town at the mouth of the mangrove-lined Estero Coyote has basic rooms and slightly salty somewhat hot showers for about $15 US/night. They also have a restaurant and bar, kayaks, peddle boats, and a boat ramp.
The mangrove-lined estero is loaded with fish but the fishing may be impacted by gill netting in the spring. Birds, clams, and sea turtles are abundant in the area and there are plenty of coyotes around as the bay's name suggests. The bay holds sand bass, snook, and sometimes halibut. At the entrance of the bay I've caught roncador (yellow finned croaker), corvina, surf perch, and plenty of highly toxic bullseye puffer fish. Pangas are inexpensive and target yellow tail, yellowfin tuna, dorado, and giant black bass that range up to 300+ pounds. Larger halibut can be found beyond the break at the main surfing point.
The mangrove channels of Estero Coyote and Estero La Bocana are great areas for kayak fishing.
Lobster, abalone, and oysters are available but be careful the cooperativa that manages these fisheries fiercely protects them from poachers. They can be purchased in season from the cooperative in Abreojos.
It can be windy and cool here so come prepared. If the Pacific fog rolls in things can be damp in the mornings.
I wrote about Campo Rene a little in my earlier post:
El Sudcaliforniano7 de septiembre de 2008
Gustavo Alonso Alvarez
Baja California Sur.- Un segundo barco fue detenido en Puerto San Carlos por la tarde del viernes 5 al encontrársele 5 toneladas de dorado, especie reservada para la pesca deportiva, la embarcación de nombre "Ellen" es al parecer propiedad de la misma empresa mazatleca a la que pertenece "Mildred", barco también detenido el viernes con 8 toneladas de dorado.
Al parecer los barcos tiburoneros siguen enfocándose a la pesca de especies reservadas al amparo de su permiso, lo cual demuestra que tanto la NOM-029 como la determinación de aplicar un 30% de pesca de acompañamiento para tolerar la pesca de otras especies, como el dorado, no están funcionado de la forma deseada, o bien, la vigilancia sigue siendo insuficiente.
El "Ellen" se dice que es propiedad de una persona con el nombre de Henry Collard, de la empresa "Odemaris" con sede en Mazatlán, Sinaloa; "Ellen" traía 5 toneladas de dorado y una de tiburón, evidentemente la pesca de acompañamiento fue la de tiburón.
Si se aplicara la tasa de incidentalidad, por la tonelada de tiburón pescada, el "Ellen" tenía derecho de traer consigo poco más de 300 kilos de dorado, no 5 toneladas. El caso del Mildred es similar, pues para las 12 toneladas de tiburón que traía tenía derecho a un máximo de 4 toneladas de dorado y no 8.
Esta información fue proporcionada por pescadores de la zona y ayer sábado no fue posible confirmarla con el personal de guardia de la CONAPESCA, que al parecer se mantenía en operativo en puertos y mar, de modo que los datos son extraoficiales.
Here's a map I put together a while ago showing the northern fishing spots where many of Loreto's dorado are caught. The locations in red also produce jurel (yellow tail) and other species although pangas rarely venture to the outermost spots during the rough winter conditions.
"...my wife had NEVER been fishing before and requested a patient captain.Note that dolphin fish is the english name for Dorado.
...I was not really expecting a whole lot in the way of catching fish as the moon had been full the night prior. We headed out on Eulogio's panga. After making bait we drove to the fishing grounds. He explained to us what we were going to be doing.
After an hour or so, we caught our first fish, a smallish dolphinfish. I did not want to retain any fish and requested that the captain release it if he did not want it. No problem. He let it go. During the next two hours or so we continually hooking into, landed and released dolphinfish. We ended up keeping two that had been gut-hooked. After catching around (and releasing) another 3 fish I was pretty happy with the venture. My wife had caught and released a similar number. But Eulogio kept looking and did not seem at all to be in a hurry to get back into port. I had explained to him that I was more of a species fisher than one interested in size or prestige. He looked for billfish and other species but was unable to get any to bite. But he tried. Patiently.
Finally at around 1 pm I told him that I was happy and wanted to head back. He told me he did not mind staying out. When I assured him we had had our fill of fishing and were quiet happy, he drove to port. It was very obvious to me that this man loved his job, enjoyed helping clients and was out to give his clients a quality, fun-filled experience. I was impressed with his demeanor and willingness to honor what I wanted to do. I have had significant problems in the past with captains that practically refuse to release anything but he was not at all like that.
... As a person who has fished all over the world, I was very impressed... I plan to return to Loreto next year."
"According to the story in the newspaper, this commercial vessel from Mazatlan, was caught North of Loreto and found with 1,300 Kilos of dorado onboard in their storage holds. Along with the Dorado were two small sharks. Under Mexican fisheries law, Dorado is reserved for sport fishing and can only be taken commercially if an incidental catch. Sharks can be caught commercially but only under a shark permit. This boat did not have a shark permit and they were totally illegally fishing the resulting catch. According to the local PROFEPA agents, they responded to repeated calls by local sportfishing pangueros and service providers as this boat was seen longlining for Dorado and filleting Dorado meat at sea.
PROFEPA was unable to investigate due to lack of funding (no gas for patrol boat), so the Loreto Marine Park accompanied them to make the bust. I saw this boat being brought to port at 16:00 on Wednesday before being moved to La Paz. On further interviewing PROFEPA agents on the matter we (Laura Escobasa of Eco Alianza Loreto and myself) were told that their funding ran out two months ago and they no longer have gas for their boats or can maintain their equipment. We are investigating ways in which resources from the purchase of Mexican Sport Fshing Permits and Loreto Marine Park Tickets can be collected and stay in the Loreto area for the purposes of research and enforcement of the laws. We will be posting a survey on tourists awareness about Mexican fishing licenses soon which will help us build the following case: it is a fact that revenue collected in Loreto for the purpose of Mexican fishing licenses is disproportionately higher than the revenue collected from the rest of Baja California Sur and the rest of Mexico, thus those funds should rightly stay in this area in the future."
Loreto is having a fantastic dorado season. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm going to make it down this summer. This picture is from an August evening trip a few years ago at the Bajo las Boyas northeast of town.
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